Method for making a sulphur bearing oil



vApril 26, 1938. H. F. MERRIAM ET Al. 2,115,426

METHOD FOR MAKING A SULPHUR BEARING OIL Filed sept. 19, 1955 s/Udye Tank F294 y Condenser "3 Feor /0/ Furnace 30 /f/ I 2/ '25 Sgam-afar (b//ec/'n 5 Ian/r 9 39 (ande/75er W m J8 9? f l "45' i! l.-- .--...LL

nui-Um 8 47 ,E sm/ I (6 L M k/ 50 v 5./ C/'d .ffabl'll'zea/or l//n-a//l'zed /p/'/a/ w fz/{q/n/r oil 55 le in' Fece/'Ver Receiver' eef/nem* Tan/f 6/ v 57/` may@ Wafer fic/d /nJa/a/e a/'l f8 fafa/zer INVENToRs l. F. Mer/jam EYG. W. Cup; Jr.

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 PATENT OFFICE METHOD FOR MAKING A SULPHUR BEARING OIL Henry F. Merriam, West Orange, N. J., and

George W. Cupit, Jr. assignors to General Long Island City, N. Y.,

Chemical Company, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 7 Claims.

This invention relates to methods for making sulphur bearing oils. More especially, the invention is directed to methods for making sulphur bearing oils derived from sludges formed in oil rening processes in which sulphuric acid is employed.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to provision of improvements in methods for making sulphur bearing oils having sulphur contents substantially higher than those of previous sulphur oils of generally similar character. It is the object of one phase of the invention to provide methods for extracting certain sulphur compounds from sulphur bearing oils, and in this Way producing sulphur bearing oils of increased utility. The invention also aims to provide methods for making oils having especially high sulphur content substantially all of which sulphur is in strong chemical combination. Further objects of the invention are to provide methods for making relatively high sulphur oils which are stable and do not become turbid, or deposit sulphur on standing.

In oil rening processes, involving treatment of petroleum distillate oils with sulphuric acid, large quantities of sludges are produced. When destructively decomposed by heating, these sludges form gas mixtures containing water vapor and condensable hydrocarbon vapors, and gases such as sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and uncondensable hydrocarbons.

When sludge material, resulting from treatment With sulphuric acid of relatively light hydrocarbon oil distillates containing substantial quantities of sulphur compounds, is dissociated preferably by destructive decomposition by heating to form a hot gas mixture containing hydrocarbon vapors and the gas mixture is cooled, for example to about normal temperature, an oily condensate is obtained Which is a sulphur bearing oil apparently containing sulphur constituents and non-sulphur constituents in variable quantities depending largely upon the nature of the original sludge material. In accordance with the invention, it has been found that a sulphur oil of this type may be treated in such a Way as to eect a selective separation of a large portion of certain more valuable sulphur constituents from the other sulphur and non-sulphur constituents. More particularly, it has beenV found that sulphur oils of the kind mentioned may be treated with an acid, for example sulphuric acid, capable of extracting or dissolving certain sulphur constituents of the initial oily condensate and that there results after settling 19, 1935, Serial No. 41,190

(C1. ISG- 148) the formation of a layer of sludge containing the extracted or dissolved sulphur constituents, and a layer of unreacted oily material comprising as a rule mostly non-sulphur constituents. After separation of the sludge layer from the unreacted oil layer, the sludge is treated, as by hydrolysis by addition of Water, to effect separation of the Vsulphur bearing oil and the dissolving acid used to .dissolve theV sulphur bearing constituents out of the initial oily condensate. The dilute acid layer and the sulphur bearing oil layer are separated, as by decantation, thus recovering the sulphur bearing constituents dissolved out of the initial oily condensate by the acid treatment., The oils so produced are stable, as a general rule higher in sulphur than the initial oily condensate, and do notdeposit free sulphur or become less effective on standing.

A further appreciation of the objects and advantages of the invention may be had from a consideration of the following description of a preferred method for making the improved high sulphuroils and of the oils produced by such methods. Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing illustrate diagrammatically apparatus by which the improved high sulphur oils may b made.

Referring to the drawing, I0 indicates the combustion Vchamber of a furnace adapted to burn coal, coke, o-il, natural gas or other fuel. Mounted in chamber I0 is a decomposing kiln or retort II'of any desirable construction, for example a fixed shell provided with suitable mechanism such as a screw conveyor, not shown, to facilitate discharge of coke. A rotaryretort may also be employed if desired. Preferably an externally heated kiln adapted to substantially exclude admission of airis used. One end of kiln II communicates with a gas outlet I3, and the opposite end projects into a header I4 into which the solid residue of the decomposition of the acid sludge is continuously discharged. Header I4 empties into air-lock I5 through which coke may be discharged without admitting air to the kiln. Acid sludges, constituting sources of the sulphur bearing oils of the invention, are run into the kiln from supply tank Il through a valve-controlled pipe I8. Gas outlet I3 is connected to the lower end of a cooler or condenser 20 of any suitable construction, either air or Water cooled, and oper- 50 ated so as to reduce the temperature of the gas stream to substantially normal to condense the bulk of the Water vapor and a major portion of condensable hydrocarbons contained in the, gas. Condensate from-the cooler drains into at separatorfor collecting' tank 2| through'a pipe 22 having a .liquid seal. -I z Y The gasesuncondensedin cooler 20, containmg principallyV sulphur.*dioxideV .areV discharged Yto' permit continuous gravity separationof Water and cil contained inthe Vcondensate discharged' from condenser `20. YThe sulphur bearing hydro'- carbon cils ofthe condensate rise to the .top of through gas line 23, andmay be used as desired, for example inthejrnanutactureof sulphuric acid by the contactprocesjs. a .i I l Separator 2l may be a tank Yorvatlarge enough theV mass Vin the separator,.,and mayf'be Withdrawn continuously or int'ermittently'throughY discharging, into afcollectingft'ank .26.' Water settling to the bottom ofY the Vseparator Jmay be drawn off through pipe 21, controlled by Valve 28,

K i and discharged to Waste or `otherwise-disrx'ised of.i 'Y

' The stil1130, of any approved construction, mayV be .externally 'heated by Vhot combustion gases .generated infbrickwork setting 3l. kRaW condensate from collectingtank 26r isrun into `the still throughpipe 38, controlled 'by'valve 39.,V Vapors generated in the still"flovv` through line 4l" to a condenser 43, the condensate or Whichdrains through pipes 45 and 46, into receivers 50 and 5I, Y ,The oils of the inventionmay be madein ap'-V f paratus such'as illustrated ,in the drawing and described aboveby operating substantially.v as*v Afollows:

tof produce the improved high sulphur-bearing oils, acidY sludgesY Ivvhichjmay be employed are distillate'averaging 0.25 toY 0.30%'sulphur or more. Sludge material of thetype indicated and which uct's'tendto be decomposed. The preferred teinthose" resulting from sulphuric Y acid treatment Yof Alight distillate oils obtainedrl from petroleum crudescontaining sulphur.V The acid'rsludges utilizedY are preferably i sl-udges ,resulting from' treatment withlsulphuric. acid of light-hydrocarbon ,a Y oil distillates such yas gasolineand kerosene, containing not less Ythan about v0.15% sulphur, although distillates containing less sulphur may be Vemployed if desired.:"IllustrativeV examples ,of

distillate'oils from which sludges 'are produced of Y. Y -a charactersuitablejfor usein the present invention-are straight-run gasoline distillates containing about 0.15% sulphur Aor more,l and"V cracked `mayhavefor'exarnplera titratable acidity of 40% ,toY 60% expressed as'I-IgSCh is continuously fed into kilnY Il Vfrom supply tank l1. The burnersA Vinfurnace I0 are-adjusted to maintain'w'ithin the i l kiln temperatures desirablynot in'excess offabout '750o` asv abovethisternperaturefzthe sulphur oils constituting the basis otlthe improved-'prod- 'v peraturesarefabout 250"F. .at'thej sludge inlet end, and atentados nl. to 60o" nlatthe'coleoutlet end of thekiln.

The sludge, gradually' passed throughthe re-VV tort, is relatively gradually heated through `rthe preferred temperature range andV is ,decomposed Y vby the action .of heat, and the free and/oncom-V binedrsulphuric acidkof the sludge is reduced to .sulphur dioxide by the hydrogenof the hydrocar- 'bons'and/orbythe carbonaceousmattercontained vinthe sludge. *Thesludge material Vis thus dissociated, as bythe destructive distillation method indicated, with production otivater vapor, ,andi hydrocarbon Y vapors and sulphur' 'compounds areV formed. Residual vcoke isV Vcontinuously 'dis-V charged Vfrom the kilnthrough air-lock |57. The

major part ofthe sulphur oils appears to haveV @been evolvedby thetim'e the sludgerhas reached a 'temperature of S50-'400 F.

pipe

' absence ofV other extraneous gases. erating, the volume or gas formed is lessened and Y In carrying"out'therrnetllods of the invention The gas resulting from the .decomposition of the sludge contains principally water vapor and sulphur dioxide, substantial amounts of condensable hydrocarbons Yand sulphur compounds Y and smaller Yquantities of 'uncondensable hydrocarbons and gases such as carbon dioxide, carbonV Y monoxide-,and nitrogen.V Forjexample, one rep- 1 resentative sludge having av titratable acidity of about 50% expressedV as H2804 yielded on' de` ,Y

Y'composition by destructive distillation about 28% residual c oke and a retort gas which, after coolingto Yabout normal temperatures, produced" 4,about V6% vcondensable oils, about 35%. water,KV

based on the Weight of the sludge, the balance of' theretort gasY comprisingV sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbonmonoxide, nitrogen, and uncondensable hydrocarbons and water` vapor. As

previously noted,y according Vto the preferred method'gfor making the'sulphur bearing oils, de- Y composition of sludges is effected in the kiln `substantially in the absence of oxygen and inthe :loss of sulphur oil by volatilization is decreased. i

The hotgaseous and vaporo'us products of 'de'.-V

When so op- Y composition of the sludgefare discharged fromfth'e g kiln andfpassed througlifconduitl3into con?y Y denser 20 in Which the gases areicooled'to substantially normal temperatures.V Cooling may be f accomplished by circulating through ythe-5c`o`ny denser in' indirect heat exchangeV relation -with Y theretort gasmiXture any suitable cooling liquid or gas. Inplace of the condenserillustrat'edin the drawing, a vertical tower having a spray head at the top for introduction of Water may beremf ployed. In Vsuch cases, the retort gas mixture isV introduced into the bottom of the tower vand flows upwardly, intimatelycontacting and minglingvr 'withthe downwardlyidirected sprayof Water fed at` the top of the tower.k The amount of coolabout normal Yatmospheric temperatures.

YTDuring `cooling of Vthe retort gas mixture in i xtheicondenser 20, substantially all of thewater vapor andthe major Yportion of the condensable ing Water introduced is so controlledas -to coolf the'V exit-gases leaving the top of the. toWertojV a hydrocarbon vapors and sulphur' compounds are condensed out of the gas stream. The condensate of cooler 20, containing varying Vproportions Vof Vvvaterand` liquid hydrocarbons and sulphurl f compounds,^isdrained through pipe Y22 Vinto sepafV VThe Water settling tothe bottom of the separator Vrater 2|. Y InY theV latter, the oilsY rise to the top .fof ,the liquid mass in the tank, and may be in.

termittently or continuously Withdrawn through l, 'pipe'v 25'into 'tankj for collectingwhat may be Ytermfed a' raw condensateur initial sulphur oil.

2l Ymay be discharged from' the system through Y pipe 21.

j The on? @sheeting in tank 261s aslphurbearing oil containing generallyfromvabout 3to about 22% sulphur, apparently in strongchemical comel binationl l It will be'understood the sulphur confV tentjotthisfcondensate,may Vary ,considerablyin Y accordancev with the characteristicsrof the Vinitial crude oils and yofthe acid sludges produced on ytreatment of the hydrocarbon oil distillates'with Vvs ul'phuricv acid. Eorexample, anV acid jsludge j Vformed through sulphuric acid treatment' of a i straight-'run gasoline yielded an oil condensate of 12% byweightjof the sludge, the condensate 'Y analyzing 14.8% sulphur. YA cracked distillate sludge'yielded 10% by Weight of oil condensate? a In anotherinstance,`a cra'cked distillate averaging about .25

having asulphur content of 7.5%.

L'Ji

to .30% sulphur produced on treatment Vwith sulphuric acid a sludge which, on treatment in accordance with the present method, yielded 10.8% by weight of oil condensate analyzing 20.8% sulphur. For convenience in the following discussion, crude sulphur bearing oils of the kind just described are referred to herein as initial sulphur oils.

vInitial sulphur oils of the type described contain sulphur constituents and non-sulphur constituents in varying quantities. In .accordance with the invention it has been found that sulphur oils of this kind may be treated with an acid, for example sulphuric acid, in such a way as to bring about a selective separation of certain sought for sulphur constituents from other sulphur and nonsulphur constituents. Such separation treatment, in addition to effecting separation of more valuable sulphur constituents from other sulphur and non-sulphur constituents of the oils, in most instances results in production of oils having substanitally higher sulphur content than the initial sulphur oils or condensates and containing all or almost all of the sought for sulphur constituents of the initial sulphur oils. The high sulphur oils resulting from such acid treatment and constituting the product oils of this invention for convenience may be termed refined oils, or purified or concentrated or extracted oils.

The separation treatment of an initial sulphur oil to produce a refined oil (one such treatment being hereinafter describ-ed in detail) may be applied if desired directly to an initial sulphur oil as recovered in tank 26. However, the initial oil in this state contains appreciable quantities of foreign matter, such as coke-dust and tars, which under most circumstances may be desirably removed. Separation of foreign matter from the initial oil may be effected by distilling the initial oil producing a coke or asphalt-like still residue and distillate or condensate which may be termed an unstabilized distillate oil. If desired, the separation treatment referred to may be applied to the sulphur bearing oil of tank 26 after removal of the foreign matter such as coke-dust and tars as by the distillation operation mentioned) that is, to the unstabilized distillate oil. Further, the initial sulphur oil in tank 26 and the unstabilized distillate oil usually contain substances such as mercaptans and pyridines which impart to the oil an undesirable odor and may tend to render the ultimate product oils unstable. Hence, according to the more satisfactory procedure for making the refined oils of the invention, it is preferred to (l) remove from the initial sulphur oil of tank 26 the foreign matter such as coke and tars as by distillation: (2) simultaneously fractionate the initial oil during the distillation operation, (since different fractions, e. g. a light fraction or a heavy fraction, are suited for different uses in the arts); (3) stabilize the fractions (to remove mercaptans, pyridines, etc.) and 4) then treat the stabilized oils or if desired the oils in unstabilized condition to produce the refined or purified or concentrated or extracted high sulphur oils.

Removal of foreign matter from the raw condensate of tank 26 and splitting of the condensate into two or more fractions may be done by distillation. For this purpose, oils from tank 26 are run into still 30 through line 38. The distillation operation may be carried out in any suitable still, preferably one provided with equipment for collecting separate fractions of distillate. It will be understood distillation of the raw condensate is principally for two purposes, first, to remove coke and tars from `the oil, and second, to produce preferably two fractions', one having a relatively low boiling point range, and another having a higher boiling point range. Distillaticn may be effected for example by externally heating of still 30. If desired, distillation of the crude condensate may also be accomplished at temperatures lower than those hereinafter mentioned by introducing live steam directly into the oil body while externally heating the same. Distillation may also be effected, though possibly less desirably, by superheated live steam, using steam at slightly above atmospheric pressure and heated to say 225-250 F. before introduction into the oil. Vacuum distillation may be employed if desired.

Still '50 may be operated to produce a first cut including all the oils distilling over at temperatures up to about 350 F. Vapors generated within this temperature range are liquefied in condenser 43, and are run into receiver 50. This relatively low boiling fraction may for example constitute approximately 20% by volume of the raw initial sulphur oil condensate fed into still 30. When removal of these low boiling fractions from the oil in still 3i] is substantially complete, the temperature is raised to distill over oils having boiling points ranging from about 350 F. up to about 650 F. Vapors formed are condensed in cooler 43, and may be recovered in receiver 5|. 'Ihis high boiling fraction may comprise for example E-66% by Weight of the raw condensate introduced into still 30. Approximately 10% by Weight of the original raw condensate withdrawn from tank 26 may remain in still 30 as a coke or asphalt residue, and around 5-10% by weight of the original raw condensate may be lost in the distillation operation as uncondensable vapors and gases. The low boiling cut recovered in receiver 56 usually contains a slightly higher percentage of sulphur than the higher boiling fraction collected in receiver 5 l. If desired, all of the vapors evolved in still 30 may be condensed and collected in a single receiver instead of in two receivers as 50 and 5l.v In this situation, the condensate collected corresponds in a general way with the condensate collected in tank 26 except that foreign matter, such as coke-dust and tars, has been removed.

As indicated, the hereinafter described sulphur constituent separation treatment may be applied directly to the raw condensate collecting in tank 26, or to the fractions collecting in receivers 5D and 5l, or to the condensate collecting in a single receiver used in place of receivers 50 and 5|. v The oils in this condition, however, apparently contain substances such as pyridines and mercaptans which impart to the oils undesirable odors and which may tend to render the final product somewhat unstable on standing. Accordingly, it is 'preferred to further treat the above mentioned oils to stabilize the Same and remove odors. This may be accomplished by treating the oils with a solution of sulphuric acid or caustic soda or both.

When employing caustic alkali, as is preferred, l

The oils are preferably stabilized by treating with relatively low concentration sulphuric'acid,

'Sayabout equal volume,'separating reaction prodfilets,v and Ywashing the oils with Water andalkali to remove traces ofA acid. For thisY Stabilization "treatment, V'it1ispreferred to fuse Yacid of. con-j centration Ynot in excess of jabout V60% H2SO4,

Ysince acid of this orless concentration, while l suitable for removingodor imparting substances,

doesVv not appear to have'appreciable effect on the ,':valuable sulphuncomp'ounds whichshould be l leftin the .oilsj at. thisy stage and recovered by 'the' subsequent sulphur eon'stituent separation yV-treatment. If desired, the oils Vmaybe stabilized vrby using acidof greater concentration, ysay up to ...about 93.2% I-IzSOi (66 B.),in'which case the Vamount. of stronger acid shouldjnot desirably.- Vexceed about 7% by volume of the oil treated. Y, ."Ireatme'nt-of the oils with Veither caustic alkali or sulphuric acidY notablyimproves the' cdor and increases the stability of the oils. In some. in-

stances, ,it is desirable to subject lthe'oilsV totreatment with both caustic'alkalifand sulphuric acid..

Inthis case, lafter Ysubjecting ,the oils tothe fcausticsoda treatment `noted abovejand removingthe alkali extract, the oilsare` washed with VWater .toremove the alkali, and then treated withY hone for. more washes of V'e'qual'volumeof dilute sulphuric acidffor 4example 30%,H2SO4.` The final oil products' may be Washed with Water to .remove traces of acid, and thenV brightened by 'blowing with air; or otherrmethods.

Y .In theV case. of a raw condensate from tank 26,

or where the foreign matter is removed from the condensateof tank 26, as by distillation and col' election of all the distillate in a single receiver, YtheV stabilization treatment may be appliedas desiredf. Y

The oils stabilized; for example as mentioned above, are. sulphurfrbearing mineral oils,k light bodied, and have ,a relatively high ,sulphur con- Y tent, substantially all of which is in strong chemi- Y. other sulphur bearing compounds.

vcal combination.V It appears substantial amounts ;ofthe contained sulphur is present as 'alkyl sulphidesandpossibly also 'some'disulphides and The sulphur content of the oils at this stage may vary from y about 3 to about 22%, and on'standing the oils 1 sulphur constituent separationimay be effected 'Y for example by Ytreatment 'of unstabilized Ior 'stabilized oils with relatively strong sulphuric do vnot become turbid or deposit sulphur. The oils are a light straw color. The specific gravity of 'a representative oil is Yabout 0.98. cosity is low; about v32 to 34 Sayboltat 100 F.

A Y' 'Ihe oils in unstabilized Vand stabilized Vcondition 'appear to comprise mixtures Y'of the. sought for sulphur constituents,.and other sulphur and non-sulphur constituents; The ultimate rened oils of the invention are obtained by selectivelyY separating the sought for sulphur constituents from other sulphur Yand non-sulphur constitu--V ents. In accordance ,with lthe invention,V this acid which does notappear Yto react to any great r extentwith thenon-sulphur constituentsY but which does appear to have-the property of dissolving or combining Vwith the sought for .sulphur constituents andrformingan acid sludge contain- 'ing '.such sulphur constituents.'` Y

i On treatment of raw condensate or any of th fractions mentioned, in stabilized or unstabilized condition, with acid, Vas in tank or vat 55, there is formed a sludge which contains substantially all of the desired sulphur constituentsof the.

oil. The preferred procedure for Vcarrying out acid used) in the same manner as with the first The Vis- K sulphur oil in tank or vat 55. tion is severethe reaction Vmass may be cooled, sinceY theV temperatureA should preferablyV not exceed Vabout 120 E'. The acid is added to the Y oil gradually saypveraperiod of about15 min.VV utes more. .The reaction mass 4is allowed-toisettle Y for say 30 minutes ormore; after whichftimeithe yacid. Vsludge formed'is .withdrawn fromV tank '555152,

by gravity through line 51V and fed into hydrolyzerV s 58. Theacid insoluble oil from'the rst dump dump of acidY (about by volume ofthe total Y remaining in tank 55 is treatedwith a secondVV dump, allowed to settle, and the. acid' sludge Y withdrawn through line 51 and -addedy to the sludge already in hydrolyzer 58 from thefirstthe oil maybe added thereto'inone dump, al-

dumps since thisprocedure brings about more `complete extraction ofthe desired .sulphurcon` stituents from the oil. The sludge irrhydrolyzerY Y 58 is treated with about `twice the. volume of water and is hydrolyzed, resultingin breaking up of the sludge and aseparation of the sulphur 'dump- 'If desired, all of the acid used t0- treat, V-

.1.25 though it is preferred to employ two or more;` .7,

oil constituents extracted out of tl'ie-stabilizedorl unstabilized oil from the acidwhich was .used

to effect this Vextraction of sulphur constituents A from the stabilized or unstabilized oil. During Y. hydrolysis.. the `'temperature is preferablynot permittedtcexceed aboutV The oil formed ,on hydrolysisof .the sludge is generally lighter Vthan the acidv which settles and forms alayerof acid in the bottom of the hydrolyzer. Afterzseterably given a light. wash for exampleqwithl V'caustic alkali, or several-washes with Waterto neutralizetraces ofracidV whichmayremainV in the oil onaccount of imperfect separationloi yoil* andY acid in `the hydrolyzenfTheuil maybe brightened by filtering. Oils recovered in this way are the oils referredto herein as therened oils, orpuried or concentrated or extracted oils.

Vtling, theacid isfdrawn 'oif through lineffj and the voil discharged through pipefll. is preiisk The sulphuricfacidused should be of. strength desirably'` not less than about 70% HzSO4, al-

though itis preferred to use stronger acids.` Sat` f isfactory extractionmaybe obtained by utilizing. 93.2%; acid (66` Be), although indications are that acid of around85% strength is'moreselec-v tive than the 93.2% acid. The'amount of acid used to bringabout separationof the soughtfrfor sulphur vconstituents from the 'undesired mostly *non-sulphur. constituents depends Yupon the amount of sulphur constituents containedv in. any

given oil. As to the total amountof acidfused Y in the separation operation, itfis preferred to. employ acid in amount corresponding tornot less.

than'about one volume of acid to one volume of rened sulphur oil, since Vexperience indicates about such amount of acid is necessary to dissolve orextract the sulphur constituents, from the inif e tial stabilized 'or unstabilized oil. That is, for any .given Volume of the'rened high sulphur oil-frecovered, preferably not'less than about an equal volume Yof'ac'id was Vused in one or, more dumps to treat the stabilized or unstabilized oil to bring about separation of the sulphur constituents from the non-sulphur constituents. In practice, the amount of acid needed may be determined by taking a sample of the oil and adding'thereto successive small amounts of acid until on` proximately within the range S50-650 F.. andcontaining about 11.6% sulphur, with about twice the volume of 93.2% sulphuric acid (66 B.),

the sulphur content of the unreacted oil after` separation of the acid sludge formed was about 1.9%, and the sulphur content of the rei-ined extracted oil obtained on hydrolysis of the acid sludge was about 19%. In another instance, on treating an unstabilized heavy fraction, boiling approximately within the range S50-650 F. and containing aboutv 2.8% sulphur, with about one volume of 93.2% sulphuric acid, the sulphur con'- tent of the unreacted oil after separation of the acid sludge formed was about 0.6%, and the sulphur content of the rened extracted oil obtained on hydrolysis was about' 8.9%. On treating an unstabilized light fraction, boiling at temperatures less than about 350 F. and containing about l8% sulphur, with about one volume of 93.2% sulphuric acid, the sulphur content of the unreacted oil after separation of the acid sludge formed was about 5.3% and the sulphur content of the refined extracted oil obtained on hydrolysis of the acid sludge was about 23%.

Instead of decomposing the acid sludge by heating as described in connection with the drawing, the original acid sludge may be subjected to hydrolysis as by steaming with live steam, for say an hour, until separation of weak acid (sludge acid) and an upper acid tar layer takes place. The weak acid may be drawn oi and the resulting acid tar or sludge material decomposed by heating as in a retort l l. VThe oily distillate may be taken in two or more cuts if desired, although it is preferred to collect the oily distillate as in a tank 26. During steaming of the acid sludge a light colored distillate may be recovered in a suitable condenser. 'I'his distillate and the condensate collected in tank 26 may be separately treated as already described to produce high sulphur rened oils, or may be combined and then so treated.

We claim:

l. The method for making a sulphur bearing oil comprising destructively decomposing by heating sludge material, resulting from treatment of light hydrocarbon oil distillates containing not less than about 0.15% sulphur with sulphuric acid, to form a hot gas mixture containing sulphur dioxide, water and hydrocarbon vapors, cooling the gas mixture to form a condensate containing water and oil, separating oil from water, distilling the oil, recovering the condensate,

treating the condensate with sulphuric acid ofV concentration not less than about '70% HzSOi, and in quantity sucient to effect extraction of sulphur bearing oil constituents from said condensate, separating the resulting sludge reaction For example, on treating a heavy product fromY the condensate, subjecting said rei sulting sludge to hydrolysis to separate sulphur.

to temperatures of not more than about 600 F.A

to decompose the sludge and form a hot gas mixture containing sulphur dioxide, water and hydrocarbon vapors, cooling the gas` mixture to aboutv normal temperature to form a condensate containing'water and oil, separating water from oil, distilling the oil, recovering as condensate a light fraction boiling below about 350 F., treating the fraction with sulphuric acid of concentration not less than about 70% H2SO4, and in quantity suflioient to effect extraction of sulphur bearing oil constituents from said condensate, separating the resulting sludge reaction product from the fraction, subjecting said resulting sludge to hydrolysis to separate sulphur oil and acid, and recovering sulphur oil from the reaction product resulting from said hydrolysis.

3. The method for making a sulphur bearing oil comprising destructively decomposing sludge material, resulting from sulphuric acid treatment of light hydrocarbon oil distillates containing not less than about 0.15% sulphur, by heating to temperatures of not more than about 600 F. to decompose the sludge and form a hot gas mixture containing sulphur dioxide, water and hydrocarbon vapors, cooling the gas mixture to about normal temperature to form a condensate containing water and oil, separating water fromoil, distilling the oil, recovering as condensate a heavy fraction boiling substantially within the range 350 F. and 650 F., treating the fraction with sulphuric acid of concentration not less than about 70% H2SO4, and in quantity suilicient to eiect extraction of sulphur bearing oil constituents from said fraction, separating the resulting sludge reaction product from the fraction, subjecting said resulting sludge to hydrolysis to separate sulphur oil and acid, and recovering sulphur oil from the reaction product resulting from said hydrolysis.

4. The method for making a sulphur bearing l y than about '70% H2804 and in quantity suflicient to effect extraction of sulphur bearing oil constituents from said oil, separating the resulting sludge reaction product from said oil, sub-jecting said resulting sludge to hydrolysis to separate sulphur oil and acid, and recovering sulphur o-il from the reaction product resulting from said hydrolysis.

5. The method for making a sulphur bearing oil comprising destructively decomposing by heating sludge material, resulting from sulphuric acid treatment of hydrocarbon oil distillates obtained from sulphur containing crudes, to form a hot gas mixture containing sulphur dioxide, water and hydrocarbon vapors, cooling the gas mixture to. form a condensate containing water and 011, separatmgrrwatef f'rmzou, distiuingrthe' oil, recovering the condensate, treatin'ggtheV condensate. with sulphuric acid'of concentration notV less than about'70% H2504 and in oluantityjsufii"4 cientto efect'extractio ff'sulp'hur bearing oil n constituents from said condensate, separating the resulting sldgeri'eaction product from thev con- Y Yresulting from'saidrhydrolysis. i

y f6. The metnoa'fqr making asm'phur bearing'r, oil comprising" dstructively decomposing :by

heating sludge materialg/resulting from sulphuric acidtreatmentiof hydrocarbon oiledistillates ob `tained from sulphur containing crudes', to `form aA hot gas mixturelfcontaining sulphur dioxide, Watervandrhydrocarbonl vapors, cooling the gas lmixture to for-rnr acondensate containing'water and oil,separating'water'from oil, distilling the Y oil,v recovering as condensate Ya heavy fraction boiling substantially Within the range, 350

andGBOYF., treating'the fraction with'sulphuric acid f concentration` not less than about 70% H2804 and'in quantity sufficient to eiect ex- Y traction of sulphurbearing oil Yconstituents from said .liractiom separating the lresulting sludge re-f` *actionr product from the said fraction, subject-f ing said resulting sludge to hydrolysis to separatefV sulphurV o'iland acid', and recovering sulphur Voill from the reactioniproduct resulting from saidY hydrolysis.

7.."lr'he'methodffor making a sulphur bearing Y oil .l comprising destructively decomposing by heating sludge material, resulting from Vtreatment with sulphuric acid of light hydrocarbon oil'dis-t tillates containing not*- less :than about .0.15%

sulphur, to formwahot g'as mixture containing-"- sulphur dioxidefwater Vandr hydrocarbon vapors,

cooling the 'gasmixture to;formV a condensate ycontaining Water and'oiL-'separating Water from oil, treating the oil With sulphuric acid of con-IV centration Vnot less. than aboutV '70% II2SO4 andV inquantity sufficient toeifect extraction of` sul-A phur bearing oilA constituents from said oil, separating the resulting' sludge reaction product from said oi1,.subjecting said resulting sludge to' hydrolysis to separate sulphur oil and acid, andk recovering sulphur oil from the reaction product' resulting from said hydrolysis.

, VHENRY F.`MERRIAM. Y

GEORGE CUPIT, JR. Y, 

